Module and method for managing water and other fluids

Abstract

Modules for use in an assembly for managing the flow of water beneath a ground surface and assemblies of such modules are disclosed. The modules include supports and a deck portion and the supports are spaced apart and form channels with a main section of the deck portion. The deck portion also includes at least one section extending from a main section.

We claim: 
     
       1. A module for use in an assembly including a plurality of modules for managing the detention or retention of fluid beneath a ground surface, the module comprising:
 a deck portion having a main section, the deck portion having first and second side edges extending in a first direction, first and second ends each having a corresponding end edge extending in a second direction, and a thickness; 
 first and second spaced-apart supports that extend downward from the deck portion; 
 wherein the deck portion is located on top of the first and second supports, and the first and second supports are load-bearing; 
 wherein the first support is spaced inwardly from the first side edge so that part of the deck portion extends beyond an outside edge of the first support to form a first cantilevered section of the deck portion extending laterally from the main section; 
 wherein the second support is spaced inwardly from the second side edge so that another part of the deck portion extends beyond an outside edge of the second support to form a second cantilevered section of the deck portion extending laterally from the main section; 
 wherein the first and second supports together with the main section of the deck portion define an interior channel extending in the first direction permitting fluid flow therein; 
 wherein the first one of said supports includes a first pair of spaced-apart, load-bearing legs; 
 wherein the first cantilevered section and the first support define at least partially a first outer channel in the first direction permitting fluid flow therein beneath the first cantilevered section; 
 wherein the second cantilevered section and the second support define at least partially a second outer channel extending in the first direction permitting fluid flow therein; and 
 wherein the deck portion including the first and second cantilevered sections and the supports comprise a single, integrally-formed piece of precast concrete. 
 
     
     
       2. The module of  claim 1  wherein the module further includes a cross channel extending in the second direction. 
     
     
       3. The module of  claim 2  wherein the cross channel is generally located midway between the ends of the deck portion. 
     
     
       4. The module of  claim 2  wherein the cross channel is generally located at an end of the module. 
     
     
       5. The module of  claim 2  wherein the first support includes a longitudinal portion extending along at least a portion of the underside of the deck portion in the first direction between the first and second ends, the first pair of spaced-apart legs depend downwardly from said longitudinal portion, and wherein the cross channel extends between said first pair of spaced-apart legs. 
     
     
       6. The module of  claim 2  wherein said first support includes a longitudinal portion that extends downward from an underside of the deck portion;
 wherein the longitudinal portion of the first support extends along the module in the first direction, beneath the deck portion, and extends downward to an intermediate position between the underside of the deck portion and the bottom of the module; 
 wherein the first pair of spaced-apart legs extend downward from the longitudinal portion of the supports, 
 wherein the longitudinal portion of the first support includes a bottom edge that provides one boundary of the cross channel, and 
 wherein the legs nearest to the end edges of the deck portion are spaced inwardly therefrom and define at least partially first and second outer cross channels extending in the second direction. 
 
     
     
       7. The module of  claim 2  wherein a cross-sectional size of the interior channel is approximately the same as a cross-sectional size of the cross channel. 
     
     
       8. The module of  claim 1  wherein the module further includes first and second outer cross channels generally located at the first and second ends of the module, each cross channel extending in the second direction perpendicular to the first direction. 
     
     
       9. The module of  claim 8  wherein the module further includes a central cross channel extending in the second direction, wherein the central cross channel is generally located midway between the ends of the deck portion. 
     
     
       10. The module of  claim 9  wherein a cross sectional area of the central cross channel is generally twice as large as a cross sectional area of the outer cross channel so that when two such modules of the same size are placed end-to-end, a first outer cross channel of one module would be adjacent to a second outer cross channel of the other module so that a merged cross channel would have a cross sectional area approximately equal to the cross sectional area of the central cross channel of a single module. 
     
     
       11. The module of  claim 1  wherein the thickness of the deck portion is in the range of five inches to twelve inches and a width of the deck portion in the second direction is between six feet and 9.5 feet. 
     
     
       12. The module of  claim 11  wherein a thickness of the deck portion is approximately seven inches and the width of the deck portion is up to approximately 9.5 feet. 
     
     
       13. The module of  claim 1 ,
 wherein said second support includes a second pair of load-bearing legs spaced laterally inward from the second side edge of the deck portion, 
 wherein the legs of the second support are spaced apart from each other to further define said cross channel such that the cross channel extends through the module between the four load-bearing legs of the first and second pairs of legs; and 
 wherein the cross channel extends upwardly from a bottom surface of a load-bearing support to permit relatively unconstrained flow of fluid therein. 
 
     
     
       14. The module of  claim 13 :
 wherein the first cantilevered section extends laterally beyond the first support; 
 wherein the second cantilevered section extends laterally beyond the second support; 
 wherein the second cantilevered section and the second support at least partially define a second outer channel extending in the first direction; 
 wherein the legs of the corresponding first and second supports at least partially define at least one cross channel extending in the second direction and intersecting the interior channel; 
 whereby the module provides at least four channels. 
 
     
     
       15. The module of  claim 14  wherein the second support includes a second pair of spaced-apart, load bearing legs;
 wherein the first and second pairs of legs together with the first and second supports at least partially define three cross channels extending in the second direction and intersecting the interior channel; 
 whereby the module provides at least six channels. 
 
     
     
       16. The module of  claim 15  wherein one of the three cross channels is a central cross channel and has a cross sectional area that is larger than the two other cross channels. 
     
     
       17. The module of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the legs is spaced inwardly from the nearest end edge of the deck portion so that the deck portion extends in the first direction beyond said at least one leg. 
     
     
       18. The module of  claim 1  further including a lower support section extending in the first direction between two of said legs. 
     
     
       19. The module of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the supports is tapered in thickness along at least part of its vertical dimension. 
     
     
       20. The module of  claim 1 , wherein the deck portion main section has a thickness that is different from a thickness of the first cantilevered section. 
     
     
       21. The module of  claim 1  wherein the module comprises a side module and the second support comprises a side wall extending integrally from the deck portion to the bottom of the module. 
     
     
       22. The module of  claim 1  wherein the module is an end module and further comprises an end wall extending downward to the bottom of the module from the first or second end edge of the deck portion. 
     
     
       23. The module of  claim 22  wherein the module is a corner module wherein the second support comprises a side wall extending downward to the bottom of the module from the second side edge of the deck portion, wherein the end wall contacts the side wall to form a closed corner. 
     
     
       24. The module of  claim 1  wherein said first cantilevered section of the deck portion tapers in thickness. 
     
     
       25. The module of  claim 1  wherein at least one of the supports includes an integral footing which extends from a bottom portion of said support. 
     
     
       26. The module of  claim 1  wherein the thickness of the deck portion is smaller than a deck thickness that would be required if the deck portion did not have the first cantilevered section extending beyond said first support. 
     
     
       27. A module for use in an assembly including a plurality of modules for managing the detention or retention of fluid beneath a ground surface, the module comprising:
 a deck portion having a main section, the deck portion having first and second side edges, first and second ends each having a corresponding end edge, and a thickness; 
 first and second spaced-apart supports that extend downward from the deck portion; 
 wherein the deck portion is located on top of the first and second supports, and the first and second supports are load-bearing; 
 wherein the first support is spaced inwardly from the first side edge so that part of the deck portion extends beyond an outside edge of the first support to form a first cantilevered section of the deck portion extending laterally from the main section; 
 wherein the first and second supports together with the main section of the deck portion define an interior channel extending in a first direction permitting fluid flow therein; 
 wherein the first one of said supports includes a first pair of spaced-apart, load-bearing legs; 
 wherein the first cantilevered section and the first support define at least partially a first outer channel in the first direction permitting fluid flow therein beneath the first cantilevered section; 
 wherein the deck portion including the first cantilevered section and the supports comprise a single, integrally-formed piece of precast concrete; 
 wherein the module further includes a cross channel extending in a second direction; 
 wherein said first support includes a longitudinal portion that extends downward from an underside of the deck portion; 
 wherein the longitudinal portion of the first support extends along the module in the first direction, beneath the deck portion, and extends downward to an intermediate position between the underside of the deck portion and the bottom of the module; 
 wherein the first pair of spaced-apart legs extend downward from the longitudinal portion of the first support, 
 wherein the longitudinal portion of the first support includes a bottom edge that provides one boundary of the cross channel, 
 wherein the legs nearest to the end edges of the deck portion are spaced inwardly therefrom and define at least partially first and second outer cross channels extending in the second direction; and 
 wherein the longitudinal portion of the first support includes end edges that are vertically aligned with the first and second end edges of the deck portion. 
 
     
     
       28. A module for use in an assembly including a plurality of modules for managing the detention or retention of fluid beneath a ground surface, the module comprising:
 a deck portion having a main section, the deck portion having first and second side edges, first and second ends each having a corresponding end edge, and a thickness; 
 first and second spaced-apart supports that extend from the deck portion to a bottom of the module; 
 wherein the deck portion is located on top of the first and second supports, and the first and second supports are load-bearing; 
 wherein the first support is spaced inwardly from the first side edge so that part of the deck portion extends beyond an outside edge of the first support to form a first cantilevered section of the deck portion extending laterally from the main section; 
 wherein the second support is spaced inwardly from the second side edge so that part of the deck portion extends beyond an outside edge of the second support to form a second cantilevered section of the deck portion extending laterally from the main section; 
 wherein the first and second supports together with the main section of the deck portion define an interior channel extending in a first direction permitting fluid flow therein; 
 wherein each said support includes a respective pair of spaced-apart, load-bearing legs; 
 wherein the module includes a cross channel extending in a second direction; 
 wherein the first cantilevered section and the first support define at least partially a first outer channel in the first direction permitting fluid flow therein; 
 wherein the second cantilevered section and the second support define at least partially a second outer channel in the first direction permitting fluid flow therein; 
 wherein the deck portion including the first and second cantilevered sections, the supports, and the legs of the supports comprise a single, integrally-formed piece of precast concrete; 
 wherein each support includes a respective longitudinal portion that extends downward from an underside of the deck portion; 
 wherein each longitudinal portion of each support extends along the module in the first direction, beneath the deck portion, and extends downward to an intermediate position between the underside of the deck portion and the bottom of the module; 
 wherein the spaced-apart legs extend downward from the longitudinal portion of the respective supports; 
 wherein each longitudinal portion includes a bottom edge that provides one boundary of the cross channel; 
 wherein the legs nearest to the end edges of the deck portion are spaced inwardly therefrom and define at least partially first and second outer cross channels extending in the second direction permitting fluid flow therein; and 
 wherein the interior channel, cross channel, first and second outer channels, and first and second outer cross channels are in fluid communication. 
 
     
     
       29. The module of  claim 28  wherein the thickness of the deck portion is smaller than a deck thickness that would be required if the deck portion did not have the first cantilevered section extending beyond said first support. 
     
     
       30. The module of  claim 28 , wherein the deck portion main section has a thickness that is different from a thickness of the first and second cantilevered sections. 
     
     
       31. The module of  claim 28  wherein each said cantilevered section of the deck portion tapers in thickness so that it is thinner at the side edges than where the cantilevered section joins the corresponding support. 
     
     
       32. The module of  claim 28  further comprising at least one gusset extending from one of the supports, said gusset supporting the first cantilevered section extending laterally from the main section. 
     
     
       33. The module of  claim 28  wherein a cross-sectional area of the interior channel is approximately the same as a cross-sectional area of the cross channel. 
     
     
       34. The module of  claim 28  wherein at least one of the supports includes an integral footing which extends from a bottom portion of said support. 
     
     
       35. The module of  claim 28  wherein at least some of the channels extend to the bottom of the module and the module is configured to permit substantially unrestricted fluid flow within the at least some of said channels. 
     
     
       36. The module of  claim 28  wherein when two of said modules are placed end-to-end, the outer cross channel that is formed between the legs of one module and the legs of the other module has approximately a same cross sectional size as the cross channel of each module. 
     
     
       37. The module of  claim 28  wherein said module is formed without the use of pre-stressed concrete. 
     
     
       38. The module of  claim 28  wherein the module is an end module and further comprises an end wall extending downward to the bottom of the module from the first or second end edge of the deck portion. 
     
     
       39. The module of  claim 28  wherein the module has a width in the range of about 2 feet to about 10 feet. 
     
     
       40. The module of  claim 39  wherein the thickness of the deck portion of the module is in the range of five inches to twelve inches. 
     
     
       41. The module of  claim 40  wherein a width of the deck portion is between about 8.5 feet and 9.5 feet. 
     
     
       42. The module of  claim 28  wherein the thickness of the deck portion is smaller than a deck thickness that would be required if the deck portion did not have the first cantilevered section extending beyond said first support. 
     
     
       43. A module for use in an assembly for managing the detention or retention of fluid beneath a ground surface, the module comprising:
 a rectangular deck portion having a length in a first direction longer than its width in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction and having first and second side edges on opposite sides of the deck portion and extending in the first direction, and the deck portion also having first and second end edges on opposite ends of the deck portion, the end edges extending in the second direction; 
 two supports that extend integrally downward from an underside of the deck portion to a bottom of the module, wherein the supports are load-bearing; 
 wherein the deck portion includes a main section and a first cantilevered section extending laterally from the main section to the first side edge, wherein a nearest one of said two supports is spaced inwardly from the first side edge, wherein the first side edge of the deck portion is a side edge of the first cantilevered section; 
 wherein the deck portion includes a second cantilevered section extending laterally from the main section to the second side edge, wherein the support that is nearest to the second side edge is spaced inwardly therefrom, wherein the second side edge of the deck portion is a side edge of the second cantilevered section; 
 the supports being spaced apart and together with the main section of the deck portion defining an interior channel extending in the first direction and permitting fluid flow therein; 
 wherein at least one of the supports includes at least two spaced-apart, load-bearing legs that at least partially define a cross channel in the second direction, the cross channel extending between the legs; 
 wherein the first and second cantilevered sections and their respective nearest supports define at least partially first and second, spaced-apart outer longitudinal channels extending in the first direction permitting fluid flow therein, the interior channel and each of said outer longitudinal channels are generally parallel to each other; 
 wherein the legs are spaced inwardly from the first end edge of the deck portion so that the end of the deck portion corresponding to the first end edge overhangs the legs to define at least partially an outer cross channel extending in the second direction; 
 wherein the interior channel, cross channel, outer cross channel, and outer longitudinal channels are in fluid communication; and 
 wherein the deck portion including its first and second cantilevered sections and the supports are a single, integrally-formed piece of precast concrete. 
 
     
     
       44. The module of  claim 43  wherein the module is an end module and further comprises an end wall extending downward to the bottom of the module from the first or second end edge of the deck portion. 
     
     
       45. The module of  claim 43  wherein said first cantilevered section of the deck portion tapers in thickness so that it is thinner at the side edges than where the cantilevered section joins the corresponding support. 
     
     
       46. The module of  claim 43  wherein a thickness of the deck portion is smaller than a deck thickness that would be required if the deck portion did not have the first cantilevered section extending beyond said first support. 
     
     
       47. A module for use in an assembly for managing the detention or retention of fluid beneath a ground surface, the module comprising:
 a precast, concrete structure formed as a single, integrally-formed piece having a rectangular deck portion having a length in a first direction and a width in a second direction; 
 first and second load-bearing, spaced-apart support members, each including a respective pair of spaced-apart, downwardly-dependent, load-bearing legs, thereby including first and second pairs of legs; 
 wherein the deck portion overhangs the first and second pairs of legs in both the first direction and the second direction perpendicular to the first direction to form four cantilevered sections of the deck; 
 an interior channel beneath the deck portion extending in the first direction, having the first pair of legs on a first side of the interior channel and the second pair of legs on a second side of the interior channel; 
 a cross channel extending in the second direction and extending between the first and second pairs of legs; 
 a first outer channel extending beside the interior channel, extending laterally beside one pair of the legs; 
 a second outer channel extending beside the interior channel, extending beside the other pair of the legs; and 
 wherein all of said channels are in fluid communication. 
 
     
     
       48. The module of  claim 47  further comprising first and second outer cross channels extending in the second direction, said outer cross channels being located outward from the legs. 
     
     
       49. The module of  claim 48  wherein a cross sectional area of the cross channel is generally twice as large as a cross sectional area of the outer cross channel so that when two such modules of the same size are placed end-to-end, the first outer cross channel of one module would be adjacent to the second outer cross channel of the other module so that a merged cross channel would have a cross sectional area approximately equal to the cross sectional area of the central cross channel of a single module. 
     
     
       50. The module of  claim 47  wherein all of the channels extend to a bottom of the module and permit unconstrained fluid flow. 
     
     
       51. The module of  claim 47  wherein fluid flow through one of the channels is restrained by a further precast concrete member that is unitary with one or more of the legs of the module and is located at a lower portion of the module. 
     
     
       52. The module of  claim 47  wherein a cross sectional area of the cross channel is approximately the same as a cross sectional area of the interior channel. 
     
     
       53. The module of  claim 52  wherein the module width is between 8 and 9.5 feet and a thickness of the deck portion is about 7 inches. 
     
     
       54. The module of  claim 47  wherein said first cantilevered section of the deck portion tapers in thickness so that it is thinner at the side edges than where the cantilevered section joins the corresponding support. 
     
     
       55. The module of  claim 47  wherein the module has a width in the range of about 2 feet to about 10 feet. 
     
     
       56. The module of  claim 55  wherein a thickness of the deck portion of the module is in the range of five inches to twelve inches. 
     
     
       57. The module of  claim 56  wherein a width of the deck portion is between about 8.5 feet and 9.5 feet. 
     
     
       58. The module of  claim 47  wherein a thickness of the deck portion is smaller than a deck thickness that would be required if the deck portion did not have the first cantilevered section extending beyond said first support.